Amazing 3-ingredient strawberry banana smoothie without yogurt! Make this thick, creamy smoothie in less than 5 minutes. This healthy snack tastes like a milkshake! All you need is frozen strawberries, bananas, and whatever milk you like to use.
You are going to love this smoothie because it's:
- Family-friendly: this simple bright pink smoothie is a winner all around, you can guarantee the kids will love it and be asking for more. This is a perfect smoothie to start with for those who haven't had or made many smoothies before!
- Healthier than one from Jugo Juice or Booster Juice: The smoothies you buy at smoothie chains are great in a pinch (and honestly they are my go-to when I'm in an airport) however, homemade smoothies are going to be healthier. It's hard to know which smoothies from fast food stops are mostly juice or sorbet (aka sugar water). Homemade smoothies are an awesome way to know you are getting fiber, and other nutrients specific to your needs.
- Easy, but super adaptable! If you don't have frozen strawberries, you can use fresh strawberries! If you don't have fresh bananas you can use frozen bananas! Want to add protein or seeds? No dairy, only have oat milk? That's all okay! It will still taste amazing, full details on how to below.
For another strawberry smoothie loaded with nutrition and protein try this recipe with kale and dates. If you want another tasty smoothie without yogurt, this turmeric banana smoothie!
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Ingredients & Subsitutions
All you need is three basic ingredients. Below I will share the nutritional information about the ingredients in this creamy smoothie.
- Bananas: The ripeness of the banana affects how sweet the smoothie is. Have you ever noticed a banana that is still somewhat green is quite starchy and not very sweet, but a banana with brown spots is super sweet? Keep this in mind when choosing what bananas you use for the smoothie!
- Frozen Strawberries: I used frozen strawberries for this recipe as they are often more cost-effective than fresh strawberries (except for strawberry season!) and they are available all year round.
- Fresh strawberries: If you would like to make this smoothie with fresh strawberries, all you need to do is add ice cubes. Start with 3 ice cubes, and add more if you want a thicker smoothie. Note that if you don't drink it right away the ice will melt, making the smoothie a lot thinner.
- Milk: Any milk will work for this recipe. If you are dairy free you can use coconut, almond, oat, or soy milk.
See recipe card for quantities.
Strawberry & Banana Nutrition
Strawberries' key nutrients are vitamin C, folate, potassium, B vitamins, iron, fiber, and calcium. They can help prevent night sweats, lower blood pressure, protect against viruses, protect against DNA damage and skin disorders, streghten teeth and remove tartar, along with many other positive health factors.
Bananas' key nutrients are potassium, selenium, magnesium, folate, vitamin C, B vitamins, and vitamin D. They can be beneficial for those with ulcers, diarrhea, potassium deficiency, and high blood pressure to name a few conditions.
This information was gathered from Prescription for Dietary Wellness by Phyllis A. Balch and Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford.
Optional Add In's and Variations
As mentioned above this strawberry smoothie made without yogurt is super adaptable for your dietary needs, whatever is in your fridge or freezer, and to your taste preference. Here's is some alternative things to add or change:
- Greens: Add raw greens such as kale, spinach, or even chunks of zucchini. I add greens to my smoothie almost every day, it's a great way to increase vitamins and minerals in the diet without adding calories. I would recommend starting with a large handful!
- Add seeds: like flax, hemp or chia to get a good serving of omega 3 fats (alpha-linolenic acid) which are often lacking in a North American diet.
- Protein: To make this smoothie high in protein add hemp hearts, cooked quinoa, almonds, other nuts or nut butters, or protein powder. Adding protein will keep you full longer. If you choose to add one of these ingredients I would recommend adding 2 tablespoons to 4 tablespoons.
- Sweeter: for a sweeter smoothie use riper bananas (ones with more black spots), add a little maple syrup, honey, stevia powder, dates, or your go-to sweetener.
- Other fruit: This smoothie can easily be made by using other frozen fruit instead of frozen strawberries. Try making it with frozen blueberries, frozen blackberries, frozen mango, or frozen peaches.
- Add mint: Collect fresh mint and add a few leaves before blending the smoothie!
- Add vanilla extract: This will add a subtle lovely flavor. Add about 1 tsp.
If you want a more nutrient-dense foods to your smoothie, try this strawberry smoothie that includes greens, protein, and dates!
Instructions
Follow these step by step photos to make your own strawberry smoothie without yogurt. The bottom two photos show what a thicker smoothie and a thinner smoothie can look like.
Place the bananas and ¼ cup of milk on the bottom of the blender container.
Add the frozen strawberries on top of the bananas. Then place the lid on.
For a thick smoothie: This is what a thick smoothie will look like. You will need a high-power blender to make this. Use a blender tamper to push the fruit into the blade.
For a thinner smoothie: Add a bit more milk, ¼ cup at a time until you get the consistency you would like.
Tips and tricks
- To make this smoothie sweeter tasting use a ripe banana with some brown spots instead of a starchy banana that still contains green.
- Use a good blender to get a nice thick consistency! A high-quality blender can handle more frozen fruit. (My blender recommendation can be found in the equipment section)
- The right ratio of frozen fruit to fresh fruit is key to smoothie consistency! This recipe will make a perfect thick drinkable smoothie (if you want it thicker or thinner find my notes on this in the variations section).
- I've made hundreds of smoothies (I make one every single morning) and the best trick I can share is to add less liquid by having your unfrozen foods on the bottom of the blender container to make it easier to blend (and the frozen fruit on the top). For this smoothie, the banana and milk go on the bottom in the blender first, and then frozen strawberries on top!
Alternative Ways to Enjoy this Smoothie
- Thicker: To make this smoothie thicker use frozen banana instead of fresh banana, or add more ice. You will need a high-power blender to make it into a smooth thick consistency, you may need to use the tamper that comes with the blender to push the fruit into the blades. See the photos in the instructions section.
- Thinner: To make the smoothie thinner use fresh fruit (instead of frozen bananas and frozen strawberries). Or you can add more milk. See the photos in the instructions section.
- Smoothie bowl: Make a thicker smoothie like mentioned above using a frozen banana along with frozen strawberries to create the perfect thick 'nice cream' or smoothie bowl! Add your favorite chopped fruit or nut butter on top!
- Make popsicles: Place this smoothie into a popsicle mold and enjoy it fully frozen! This is a great option for a leftover smoothie. I do this probably once a week with my son's smoothie and then serve it to him later or another day!
How to double this smoothie
This smoothie makes 1 medium serving or 2 small smoothies. If you would like more smoothies you can double this smoothie for 2 medium servings for 4 small smoothies. Just double all the ingredients and blend!
Equipment
For this smoothie, you will need a blender. If you want any smoothie to be very thick the key is to have a high power blender. Often these high power blenders are made for blending frozen fruit and have a tamper to push food into the blade. I use a vitamix and this is the link to the one I use. I use my vitamix 2-4 times a day on average (for smoothies, sauces, soups, to puree food, raw energy balls) and love it!
Storage and Freezing
This strawberry banana smoothie without yogurt is best enjoyed within the next 1-2 hours after making it. Keep the smoothie in the fridge if you aren't drinking it right away.
Prep ahead: If you want to meal prep this smoothie ahead you can freeze it in a jar in the freezer, to thaw just take it out a few hours before you want to drink it.
Leftovers: With a leftover smoothie, I recommend freezing it into an ice cube tray, then adding it to your next smoothie! Or you can make leftover smoothies into popsicles!
FAQ
No you do not need to put yogurt into smoothies. There are many naturally dairy free and vegan smoothie recipes. This recipe uses only banana, frozen strawberries, and milk (any kind).
There are many reasons you may not want to use yogurt in your smoothie, this may be because you don't have any in the fridge, or you are dairy free, or vegan, or other reasons. Therefore, if you want to make a smoothie without yogurt, you can use a banana in replacement, or you can add the thick coconut cream that you will find at the top of preium cans of coconut milk.
To make a creamy smoothie without yogurt or dairy you can use ice cubes, banana (don't use a green one!), the coconut cream from a can of coconut milk, or you can even use frozen cooked cauliflower!
A fresh juice is high in nutrition however it is also high in fructose (sugar) that will give your blood sugar levels a rush and a crash, this is beacuse the fiber is striped away from the fruit. To prevent make sure to add leafy green or other veggies to your juice like kale, carrots, or celery.
Smoothies can be a better option than juice if you want to prevent a sugar rush, as the fiber of the fruit still remains! Fiber is also super great for you gut health. Choose smoothies without too much fruit juice or sorbet!
Nutrition Boost
Try adding hemp hearts to this strawberry banana smoothie without yogurt! This increases the nutrition as hemp hearts are high in omega 3's, which is an essential nutrient that is lacking in many people's diets. Hemp hearts are also very high in protein! Add 1-2 tablespoons to this smoothie!
On The Go Healthy Bites
Looking for other recipes that you can eat on the go? Try these:
Like this recipe for Easy Strawberry Smoothie without Yogurt?! Let me know down below the recipe! And give this recipe a star rating. I love hearing from you (it would totally make my day).
Strawberry Banana Smoothie without Yogurt
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- ¼-3/4 cup milk (use cow, almond, oat, coconut, soy, or your favorite milk)
- 2 cup frozen strawberries
Instructions
- Place the bananas, ¼ cup milk, and the frozen strawberries in the blender. Start the blender on low speed and then increase to high speed until everything is blended.
- Add more milk if you desire a thinner consistancy. Add ice cubes or more frozen strawberries if you desire a thicker consistancy.
- Pour into a glass(es) and enjoy!
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